The One Month RAW Challenge

[TeePee]

Saralise,

You are making a great choice!! I have read Boutenko's books and they are great!! There is a ton of support on this thread. I am currently on day 9 of this MC, but have been raw since my last cleanse ending in January. It is amazing. Read through the posts on here and on "After the Cleanse" and you should find a lot of answers for getting started!! Good luck on the cleanse. Do you have a plan for how long you'll stay on MC?

[Saralise]

I plan on staying on it for the 10 days at least, but if I feel I need to go longer, I will. Right now I am on DAY 6 and my kidneys are doin their thang! They have been hurting for 2 days solid!

I have no intentions of going back to cooked food, so I need to get busy and find out how to incorporate this lifestyle quickly! LOL

All I know is that I am tired of feeling like poopoo, I can't take it anymore, I don't want any more swelling, constipation or water retention. I want to have my enzymes, maaaannnn.

I hit a HUGE BOTTOM with all of it, so I really feel surrendered to this way of life, I have known intuitively for a long time that I would end up on RAW foods, I just didn't know when. It had to get this bad.

I will check out the threads and thanks for responding, I am soooo grateful!

S~

[Nance]

I'm on Day 6, post MC. I weaned slowly off the lemonade, missed the MC hum at first . What a nice source of energy. I have hung out some at the After The Cleanse site for accountability. I'm planning to continue on fresh juice and blender soup until after the 7th, and then will eat again. I think the Daily Dophilus, lots of water, and taking it S L O W is the ticket!

When I eat my soup (ingredients below), my liver and gall bladder ache . It is like they are shifting gears. I wonder, does anyone do a gall bladder flush after an MC? It feels like my GB has a load to let go of.
I have done a few of these in my life and they work very well. I just do not want to shock mysystem with too much oil.

Another question: I have 'warmed' up to the concept of raw, but the idea of all cold food is still a bummer. I have been warming my soup, only to a temp that is yummy, not to hot. I guess a kitchen thermometer would be the guage, and not over 112 F. I need to know what that feels like.

I am not completely raw, but here are my ingredients:
Organic Very Veggie Juice, Low Sodium
Roma Tomatoes
Flax seed oil
dash of olive oil
Garlic and Onion
Dash of spices: basil, tarragon, Vietnamese cinnamon, cayenne
Nori, cut in strips like noodles
Shoyu
Nutritional yeast

Today I blended a couple handfuls of cashews with water and flax oil to make a 'cream soup' base, and added to this basic mixture that has been 'dinner' and only meal for the past 6 days. Wow, those cashews have given a real stick to the ribs feeling . I am so glad, cuz I do not want to go back to my 'can't eat enough' habits. I allow my self ONE BOWL, and most days do OK. I have to stop and enjoy every bite, rather than get ahead of my present moment.

It was this BB that introduced me to the idea of eating raw after the cleanse, and for those of you new, we're on this adventure together! Here are my purchases after many questions on this thread. I agree, read through, and you will have your questions answered.

Have on hand: loud but effective Hamilton Beach blender & cheapie HB juicer.

After research, I ordered

Alissa Cohen's raw book (from amazon.com / Alissa Cohen)
Jenn Cornbleet's raw book (from amazon.com)
a veggie spiral cutter (from Kitchen Concepts, I forgot website)
a Cuisinart 40 oz blender/ 4 cup food processor combo. (It was half price online for a Father's Day deal from same place I got the Cuisinart)
a Handy Pantry sprouting kit. Just had my first harvest, and this sproat system was affordable and quite productive! Fresh seeds are the best!
(Got that through a local health food co-op. They have a great little book and a website.)

Next month, my roommate is moving. She has an Excaliber 9 Tray she is going to sell me for a reasonable price.

On my wish list is a Solo Star II juice extractor. Someday . . . (There is a video clip out there of a demo of how it runs.)

So, with that, I think I am well armed. I will let you know about that Cuisinart combo item. I do not know if the 4 cup food processor will be enough, especially for a cracker fiend like me who misses the CRUNCH !

Of course we are all different, our budgets and all, but the wonderful ladies gave suggestions on this thread, and I just tought I'd share my conclusions.

I will 'see' you guys after the 7th for my own 30 day raw food challenge . . . anyone care to join me from July 8 - August 7?

[Monica]

Hey Nance,

I'll join you for that time slot! I am through with the MC on the 7th, so I'll be on juice for a couple of days, but already planned to try raw for 30 days after. You are so lucky to have all of that equipment! I just have a regular blender and food processor,but if raw works for me I will get a dehydrator later. I will pick up a juicer, of course.

How do you like Cohen's cookbook? I know it is highly recomended, but what is your personal assesment of the receipes and the amount of equipment required to really use the book? I ordered Cornbleet's book to start. Although she got a lot of criticism for including extremely basic things like how to make juice, I am looking forward to the section of basics like making nutmilk and so forth, as well as the fact that most of the receipes can be made without fancy machinery. What do you think of her book?

I look up to you for having had the dedication and will power to make it through such a long MC, and am excited about 'going raw' at the same time.

Happy Health Improving,

Monica

[Nance]

Hey Monica, That is great! I am really motivated for this now! I invited anyone on the 'After The Cleanse' thread to join us.

I have Alissa's book, and am waiting for my copy of Cornbleet's book to come in the mail. I looked at it at the health food store, but ordered an amazon.com copy (used). So I can give you a comparison after that.

Alissa's book is a 'manifesto'. It is literally the heaviest 'cookbook' I have ever owned. It was really inspiring during the MC, though there were times I had to put it down cause of the recipes were making my stomach growl.

Alissa mentions that she has tried all of her recipes on a basic blender without all the fancy equipment and says they work that way.
I am not sure if she mentioned food processor in the the same fashion. So from the standpoint of not having the fancy gear, and taking her word for it, you should be OK with the basics.

I did become concerned about my food bill as I looked at the prospect of purchasing al those nuts and sheer variety of new ingredients. The photo of her in her daily jacuzzi with the young coconut let's me know she is likely in a 'higher tax bracket' than I am, for sure! Never the less, her enthusiasm for raw, the testimonies with before and after photos, and the excellent food photos make it a textbook and raw bible, beyond a mere cookbook, so I am very glad I got it. I will let you know as I progress into the recipes, the 'proof is in the pudding! Our wonderful raw 'elders' on this thread may have some input here They are much more exerienced with the actual results.

I can already say that I resonate with Jenny's book, how down to earth it feels . . . the size and feel of the pages and I need the basics for this new journey.

Thanks for your encouragement with the long MC. . . it was amazing grace all the way So Monica I look forward to walking this part of the road with you, and hope others will join us!

[TeePee]

Hi, still lurking. On day 10 of MC. Going to continue till....??? Anyway, just checking in and saw the questions on Cohen's book. It is fabulous. I have been raw since Dec and it was one of the last books I got and I wish I had started with it. I also finally got the food processor, just before her book/DVD and I use it almost exclusively on her recipes. Way more often than the Vita-Mix. Although, in my experience the food processor will not work for making "flour" from flax seeds. Vita-mix for that. Or even the Magic Bullet. First thing I bought was juicer and I use the least often of all. The citrus juicer I use everyday, even when not cleansing. Dehydrator is a great investment!!! Keep reading the backlog of posts on here and after the cleanse. There is a TON of info from some awesome people!! THis is the place to be to get going on raw!!!! (but the hardest place to be for me when on the MC!!)

[TeePee]

oh, and if you get Cohen's book, get the DVD if you can swing it too. I may not have tried some of the recipes I did, if I hadn't watched her make them and how easy they are. AND DELICIOUS!! If you get it for sure make: the enchiladas, ceasar dressing (oh, this is killing me!!), the pizza bread, the alfredo sauce, the banana crepes, the burgers and the curry sauce, the pesto stuffed mushroom caps...... oh my, I really have to stop now. 10 days of being away from this stuff is too long to be writing about it!!! Her book is a "must-have"!!! Have fun!!

[mtmouse]

I'll second that, TeePee! At least as to the recipes. I didn't get the video, but I'm a pretty confident cook so I did fine without it. (I did watch Annie Phyo's videos on her site, though, and I will admit I like seeing the processes!)

But I've made almost all those Cohen recipes myself and love them all!

[Nance]

Ah, this is excellent: info from the one who have experienced Alissa'a raw book! I have three more days of juicing, and then I can start salads, avocados, and (drum roll, please!) the recipes !

The ones I want to to first are Zucchini Pasta with Marinara, the Sushi Nori rolls and when the dehydrator comes, the Pizza. (Oh, TeePee, I remember 'lurking' on this site when I was on the MC, it was hard, but I had to keep coming back, there is such good community on this thread! What's this ??? on your MC ending? Go for it, girl!) Oh, yes, and a big batch of crackers, I miss CRUNCH!
Any suggestions on which cracker recipe to do first?

I also 'heard' you guys 'talking' about the toona, and have downloaded the recipes from this BB. This looks yummy, and versatile. Monica, have you seen those yet? Way back at the beginning of this thread there is a link to Penut's blog.

Boy, I need to plant a basil patch!

Raw Toona
3 cups walnuts, soaked overnight in filtered water, or for at least 3 hours
3 cups carrots (chop first, then measure)
1/4-1/2 medium onion
1 cup celery with leaves (leaves add good flavor)
1/2 cup parsley or cilantro
1/2 cup fresh basil (other fresh herbs, such as dill, can be used in place of basil for a slightly different flavor)
1-2 garlic cloves (according to your own taste)
2 oz. lemon juice
Nama Shoyu, Bragg's Amino Acids and/or Celtic sea salt, to taste

Drain and rinse walnuts. Cut the carrots into chunks and measure out three cups. Process walnuts and carrots to a paté through a Champion or Green Power juicer, with the blank in place. If you don't have one of these machines, process in a food processor until smooth. You may have to add a slight bit of water. Set aside in a bowl.
Cut the celery into 1-inch pieces so that you don't end up with long strings (to get stuck in your teeth), then pulse chop garlic, onion, celery, herbs and lemon in a food processor until well chopped. Add to the carrot and walnut paté and mix well. Add Nama Shoyu and Celtic sea salt to taste.

Enjoy on a salad, in a wrap, as a dip.

Variations:
- In place of celery, use fennel for a different taste.
- Use as a stuffing for nori rolls, adding in clover sprouts and matchstick-cut pieces of cucumber and tomato.
- This recipe also makes delicious dehydrated crackers.
- Add dulse or seaweed for a more fishy taste
- Add grapes, chopped nuts, olives, anything else you'd usually enjoy in your tuna

[mtmouse]

Any suggestions on which cracker recipe to do first?

My favorite are the red dragon crackers (I add more salt than it calls for). I'm currently in the process of altering them for a lime-and-chili taste, too.

Next are the rosemary crackers. That recipe, however, calls for (I think) 1/4 cup of rosemary. I usually put in 1 Tbsp instead (and even then, it's too much for DH).

Both of those are really yummy.

Have fun!